“...if we are not in a relationship with Jesus in a meaningful way, we will naturally transfer to our spouse the expectation of meeting our needs. The result is that we are set up for disappointment and our spouse is set up for failure.”

“As the weeks progress, you will learn more about each other and yourself. I truly believe that as you focus your attention on improving your marriage, you will notice your relationship changing and your love for each other growing deeper.”

“All it takes is one person going through a divorce and becoming bitter at a husband or wife. This person will look for someone to provide consolation and companionship. If you have a seed of discontent in your marriage, the next thing you know this person will be trying to build an offense between you and your spouse.”

“In all my years of marriage counseling, I have seen countless scenarios where two prideful and stubborn people were at a standoff, each waiting for the other person to flinch. Many of these situations didn't end well. My favorite stories, however, are those where a humble person stepped forward and was willing to be the redeemer of the tough situation.”

“In Ephesians chapter five, men are charged with "nourishing and cherishing" their wives. Interestingly, those are both agricultural words. Even the word husband is an agricultural term (e.g., husbandman).”

“When Karen and I got married, we didn't know how to deal with anger. We both stuffed a lot of it inside and about every three months we would have an explosive fight. Sometimes our fights were about the dumbest little things, but those dumb little things were just the spark that caused the stored up anger inside of us to explode.”

One

52 weekly marriage-building devotions for thriving couples

by Jimmy Evans

Of all your relationships-family, friends, coworkers, neighbors-one has the greatest potential to make your life joyful or miserable: your marriage. But too often the most important relationship in life is overlooked in the hectic pace of today's world and couples find themselves less and less satisfied as the months and years go by.

There's a solution, however, and it's simple. You can rediscover the joy of your relationship by making your marriage a top priority, and that's what the One Devotional is about. This 52-week devotional book provides basic principles for building the marriage of your dreams, plus thought-provoking discussion starters and fun activities to complete together.

In his open and honest style, Jimmy shares truths that he and Karen have discovered in their 35+ years of marriage. Filled with biblical wisdom and practical tips, this book provides you with everything that you need to make this the best year of your marriage!